Toothbrush container



Nov. 29, 1955 L. M. UPCHURCH TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Filed June 26, 1955 INVENTOR laws 4% H n/aka United States Patent TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Lewis Marvin Upchurch, Raeford, N. C. Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 364,261 1 Claim. ((11. 312-207 This invention relates to improvements in toothbrush containers and more especially to improvements in containers which may be used as an attractive and .useful sales case or package as well as a toothbrush holder in the home. I

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a toothbrush container which may serve as a sales package and which container may be later employed as a sanitary and convenient wall holder for a toothbrush in the home.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tubular toothbrush holder having an open lower end and a substantially closed upper end, and the inner surface of said holder having a pair of oppositely spaced detents therein for resiliently engaging the reduced neck portion of a toothbrush to support the same inside of the holder so that the lower end of the toothbrush handle extends below the lower open end of the holder and may be easily removed from or inserted into said holder. With the toothbrush thus supported, the holder will completely cover the upper end of the toothbrush so that dust and dirt will not fall onto the bristles of the toothbrush and the toothbrush will be supported in spaced relation from the walls of the holder so that air may freely circulate thereabout to dry the bristles of the brush.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container for a toothbrush which is useful as a combination toothbrush holder and carrying case, said container being preferably formed from a resilient transparent material and comprising an elongated casing having a closed or partially closed end and an open end adapted to be closed by a removable stopper or closure member when it is desired to use the container as a carrying case. A vacuum suction cup is fixedly secured to the stopper, said cup having a hollow stem portion integral therewith adapted to mate with protuberance on one side of the container for removably securing the cup to said one side of the container when it is desired to use the container as a toothbrush holder upon the suction cup being positioned on a non-porous surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combination toothbrush holder and carrying case of the type described having a utility hook formed integral therewith adjacent the upper end thereof adapted to support a dental mirror or a toothbrush or any similar desired article.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improved combination toothbrush holder and display case showing the same assembled for use as a display case and showing a dental mirror attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved toothbrush case looking at the left-hand side of Figure 1 but omitting the dental mirror therefrom;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the case in use as a toothbrush holder with the closure member removed from the lower end and utilized to secure the holder to a wall or the like; v

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the toothbrush holder looking at the upper portion of the opposite side from that shown in Figure 1 and showing a suitable advertisement attached thereto;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 66 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 77 in Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 broadly designates a casing or container which may be used as either a toothbrush holder or carrying case, as desired, and which is formed in any desired shape from a resilient and preferably transparent material such as plastic. For purposes of illustration, the container 10 is shown as an elongated tube having interconnected front and rear walls 11 and 12 and side walls 13 and 14. One

end of the container 10, which will hereinafter be referred to as the lower end, is open and is adapted to be closed by a removable stopper or closure member broadly designated at 15, while the other or upper end is preferably permanently closed as by a closure plate 16 secured to the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and if desired, having a ventilation hole 17. It is to be understood that, if desired, the closed upper end of the container may be formed integral with the walls and that the upper end and/ or the walls may be additionally perforated for additional ventilation.

When it is desired to utilize the container 10 as a carrying case, a toothbrush 20 having a handle portion 21, a reduced neck portion 22 and bristle carrying portion 23 may be inserted into the open end of the container, at which time the closure member 15 may be positioned thereon. The closure member or stopper 15 comprises a cup-shaped cap 31 having a bore therethrough for securing a rubber suction vacuum cap 32 thereto as by a press fit. A stem portion 33 having a bore 34 therein is formed integral with the cap 32.

Detents 25 and 26 project inwardly from the inner surface of the front and rear walls 11 and 12 to support the toothbrush 20 when it is desired to use the container 10 as a holder for a toothbrush, said detents being adapted to engage the neck portion 22 upon the toothbrush being inserted bristles first into the open end of the container in such a manner that a portion of the toothbrush handle 21 extends downwardly beyond the open end. In this manner the bristles of the toothbrush are maintained in spaced relation to the walls of the container to permit maximum ventilation thereabout and at the same time to prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on the brush.

A buttonhead projection 40 having a knob 41 on the outer end thereof is secured to or formed integral with the outer surface of the wall 12, said projection 40 and knob 41 being adapted to frictionally fit within the bore 34 in the stem 33 of the suction cup 32 to thus releasably secure the container 10 to the stopper or closure member 15 when it is desired to use the container as a wall holder for a toothbrush. The suction cup 32 may then be pressed against a non-porous surface S to support the closure member 15 together with the container 10 atfixed thereto and the toothbrush 20 supported therein by the detents 25 and 26.

A hook member 43 is fixedly secured to or integral with the wall 13 of the container 10 adjacent the upper end thereof, said hook 43 serving as means for suspending a desired accessory such as a dental mirror indicated at 44 so that the same will be in a convenient location and readily accessible at all times.

If desired, a suitable advertising label 45 may be attached to the front wall 11 so as to be constantly'exposed to view when the container is used as a toothbrush holder.

It is thus seen that there is provided a toothbrush contaiuer which is an attractive display case for a toothbrush in a store and which may be easily and simply converted to a toothbrush holder by merely removing the stopper 15 from the lower end, attaching it to the projection 40 on the container and pressing the suction cup against a nonporous surface S. If desired, the stopper 15 may be returned to its original position in the lower end of the container I0 to thus form a convenient carrying case for the toothbrush 20.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

"I'claimz A. toothbrush holder for supporting and displaying a toothbrush comprising a tubular casing having walls forming an elongated resiliently constructed tube, said tube 4 7 being substantially closed at one end and open at the opposite end, a stopper for the open end of the tube, an outwardly extending projection on one wall of said casing for supporting said" casing, said casing stopper comprising a cup-shaped portion for closing the open end of said casing, a resilient suction vacuum cup, and a stem portion extending from said vacuum cup and secured within the confines of said cup-shaped portion and having a bore therein resiliently engageable by said outwardly extending projection on said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

